Tag Archives: San Gabriel River

A man escaped serious injury thanks to family members who pulled him from the San Gabriel River following a near-drowning in Azusa on Saturday afternoon, officials said.
The mishap took place about 5:15 p.m. as the man was swimming with his family in the river along San Gabriel Canyon Road, near the bicycle trail, at the northern end of the city, according to Azusa police Sgt. Jorge Sandoval.
The victim, described as a Los Angeles man in his early-20s, went into the water on an inflatable raft, police said.
“The male subject fell off the raft and was submerged under water for a short period of time,” Sandoval said in a written statement. “Family members were eventually able to assist the male subject out of the water.”
Paramedics took the man to a hospital for evaluation, Sandoval said. He was conscious and alert.
Sandoval said the police department reminds the public that swimming in that portion of the river, which is private property, is both prohibited and perilous.
“Trespassers are subject to arrest,” he said. “Additionally, the water currents within this area of the riverbed are extremely dangerous and not designated for swimming or water sports.”

AZUSA >> Authorities have formally identified a 28-year-old Azusa man who drowned while swimming in the San Gabriel River earlier this month.
Adrian Joel Garcia died following the incident, which took place just after 5:30 p.m. on July 12 in the river along the 1900 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Kristy McCracken said. Coroner’s records listed no hometown for Garcia, however, police previously described him as an Azusa resident.
Friends of the Garcia, who were with him at the time of the drowning, told investigators he was swimming near a spillway went underwater, Azusa police Lt. Xavier Torres said at the time. When he resurfaced, he was unconscious.
The friends pulled Garcia from the water and performed CPR until paramedics arrived to take over treatment and rush him to Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.
Garcia was pronounced dead about an hour after the incident was reported, coroner’s officials said.
Garcia’s identity was previously withheld pending notification of family.
An autopsy was pending, McCracken said.

SOUTH EL MONTE >> The death of a man whose body was found floating in the San Gabriel River in South El Monte over the weekend has been ruled an accidental drowning, coroner’s officials said Friday.
The body of Alex Giovanne Castillo, 23, described as transient, was first spotted by a dog-walker about 1:15 p.m. Sunday, floating face-down in the river near Peck Road and Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s and coroner’s officials said.
Investigators conducted an autopsy and determined Castillo drowned, and the death was ruled accidental, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner records show.
Further information regarding the circumstances of the drowning were not available Friday. But the body was found the same day that a Spring storm dropped scattered rainfall, and even hail, across the Southland.

AZUSA >> Coroner’s officials on Saturday released the identity of a Los Angeles man who drowned in the San Gabriel River at the northern edge of Azusa last week after falling into the water.
Mark Christopher Clayton, 55, died at a hospital following the mishap, which took place about 4:40 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the river along San Gabriel Canyon Road, near the bike trail, according to Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. David Smith.
Clayton was recreating with friends when he fell into the water from a raft or inner tube, Azusa police officials said.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter crew hoisted the man from the river and flew him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, officials said.
Foul play was not suspected, police said. Clayton’s cause of death was yet to be determined by coroner’s investigators.
Azusa police Lt. Paul Dennis said the area where the accident occurred is private property, forbidden to the public, and unsafe for swimming or water sports due to “extremely dangerous” currents.

IRWINDALE >> Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man whose body was discovered in the San Gabriel riverbed in in Irwindale Sunday, authorities said.
The death was first reported shortly after 11 a.m. along Rivergrade Road, near the 605 Freeway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Kimberly Alexander said in a written statement.
Investigators from the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau are helping Irwindale police with the investigation.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters said Irwindale police first found the body in the riverbed and summoned firefighters to the scene.
“The victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” Alexander said.
The man’s identity was not released pending positive identification and notification of his family, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. Larry Dietz said. He was initially estimated to be in his 50s.
The cause of death was unclear, and was to be determined through an autopsy, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said.
“There’s no obvious signs of foul play.”
Irwindale police officials did not return calls seeking comment.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

SOUTH EL MONTE >> Authorities Friday released the name of a 62-year-old man found drowned in the San Gabriel River near South El Monte.
Anacleto Antonio Garcia was found dead, floating in the river near Thienes Avenue about 1:10 p.m. on Oct. 1, Lt. R. Hayes of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said. He was described as a transient.An autopsy found that Garcia had died from drowning, and the death was ruled accidental.

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